About SWEBOK

The Guide to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK Guide) describes generally accepted knowledge about software engineering. Its 15 knowledge areas (KAs) summarize basic concepts and include a reference list pointing to more detailed information. For SWEBOK Guide V3, SWEBOK editors received and replied to comments from approximately 150 reviewers in 33 countries.

The SWEBOK Guide has also gained international recognition as ISO Technical Report 19759.

In future refreshes, the Computer Society and its volunteers will continue to use the transparent and open consensus process that is an integral part of SWEBOK.

2004 SWEBOK Guide

The IEEE Computer Society formally approved and published the Guide to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK) in 2004; a Trial Version had been published in 2001. Under the Computer Society's leadership, the Software Engineering Coordinating Committee began refining the definition of "generally accepted" knowledge about software engineering in 1997. The goal was to further define software engineering as a profession, as described in a more detailed overview.

Contributors worldwide worked on the 2004 SWEBOK Guide, with the help of many software practitioners.

Work on the 2004 SWEBOK Guide occurred in three phases: Strawman, Stoneman, and Ironman. The Industrial Advisory Board of the SWEBOK Guide recommended the Ironman results for publication in on 6 February 2004. The IEEE Computer Society Board of Governors approved publication later that month.